Thursday, July 19, 2007

Want to know J.K. Rowling's own hints? Hear opinions on who's the worst villain of them all? Find out about other Harry Potter theories? See previous posts, below this one.

As you've probably read or heard, the New York Times has a review of Book 7 in its Thursday editions. The Baltimore Sun had one Wednesday. They say they acquired the books ethically. I don't know any more details, because I'm not going to read the reviews. Should you?

I asked some newsroom volunteers who didn't care whether they learned the ending to read the two reviews and give advice. Here's what I asked them:

Do the reviews reveal any key plot points: Does Harry die? Who else dies? Is Snape hero or villain? Who marries whom? Do they give any other hint? I.e. "happy ending" or "darkly powerful" etc etc.

Be aware I was even horrified when my eyes glanced over the 1A tease on today's NY Times front page, which said something about comparing its ending with the tradition of the heroic saga genre. My stomach lurched in horror. To me, even that was going TOO FAR in revealing the end. I mean, doesn't the heroic saga genre usually end with the hero alive? But then again, I had crappy high school English classes once I moved to Florida and never had to read Beowulf or Gilgamesh. And I can't remember how the Iliad ended, either, other than it being really boring to a teenager ...

Here's advice from Elaine Jacobs, the newsroom's administration manager: "For anyone who really doesn't want any clues about the book, DO NOT read these reviews. There are clues about the storyline and good and bad events that happen, just not the ending." She adds: "I hesitated before reading and skimmed NYT quickly before deciding I could live w/knowing the storyline. Baltimore clearly states at the beginning it's not going to tell the ending, but reveals something at the end of the review that would spoil it for some."This is from Kerry Bean, editor of the Observer's Neighbors of Southern Mecklenburg section, who replied to my query for volunteers:

"I am guilty of wanting to know the ending before I read a book because I don't like to get too attached to characters who aren't going to make it. (I already read the final pages of the book that were posted online and can't wait to find out if they were accurate. ... I just reread Book 6 last week in preparation. And because I don't know anyone else who wants to know, I told my husband all the details of the ending I read online (he only read two of the books)."

Kerry read both reviews. Her verdict: "Don't read either of them. They give away too many clues (and it appears as if the pages I read online were the real thing). The NYT one is better than the Baltimore one, but it needs a few lines edited out to be OK for fans who don't want to know anything."

She adds, "If you hear from anyone else who wants to know the ending, let them know I am so eager to talk about it."

Here's an online article about the two papers' breaking the embargo, and what other papers say they'll do, from Editor & Publisher. Warning: At the end it quotes from both of the reviews. If you don't want to read even a snippet of the review, either don't read this link or stop reading before the end.

And finally, here's an online discussion about Harry Potter, reading, and publishing from earlier today with Bob Thompson of the Washington Post. About two-thirds of the way down you'll get Thompson's opinion of the newspaper that ran reviews today.

16
comments:

Anonymous
said...

I think that people should read the reviews- if they feel like being lazy and see no value in taking the time to read a perfectly good novel. Personaly, that newspapers are publishing reviews that even vaugely hint at the ending I feel are are ruining all the sense of excitement for diehard Potter fans. It can be too temting to read about the ending. Those people would rather wait to find out who dies, and so would I, although I find the wait hard.

Let me start off the Naked City comments. I think Mary should post all the emails that have to do with the chamber issue. That way we can see if for ourselves if this is right wing non-sense or behind the scenes manipulation.

Well, I learned the hard way not to read the Sun's review. I read my Publisher's Lunch email and they gave away the answer to a major question about the book--all while reporting on Rowling being pissed at the Times and the Sun.

Ten minutes later they sent a warning not to read the earlier email because of the spoiler. Too little, too late.

First of all, I have never read a "review" of a Harry Potter book because I don't need someone pedantic snob telling me whether or not the books are good. I am educated enough to decide that for myself, thank you.

But what shocks me is seeing all these self-absorbed morons out there who want to be able to pound their chests and scream: "See, I knew it first! And I told the world!"

Anyone--an individual or media outlet--who rushes to publicly expose what happens in Book 7 is selfish, rude, arrogant, insensitive, callous, and a million other negative things that I'm not allowed to write here.

I am appalled at the NY Times, the Sun, low-life hackers, and trashy web-posters who disregard others' right to privacy; who trample others' need to know in their own time, at their own pace; who force others to hear what they don't want to hear.

I am doing everything I can to insulate myself from the spoilers ... why do some people insist on ruining it for others?!?!

Thanks for the warning about the reviews. Some people, whether they be the NY Times reviewer, or a neighbor down the street, aren't content unless they are the first to know, and the first to tell everything that is happening. We are going into lock down mode around here for the next couple of days. We refuse to let some idiot ruin the enjoyment we anticipate from this final book. How peaceful it will be without all the modern distractions, especially the two worst of all...TV and computer. The weather is supposed to be nice, and we are looking forward to an enjoyable weekend.

About Mary and The Naked City blog

Mary Newsom is an Observer associate editor and op-ed columnist who's been covering growth, neighborhoods, urban design, sustainable development and related topics since 1995. In "The Naked City" you'll read her take on those topics and others.